What is Da Nang lacking to develop the night economy?

Although considered one of the strongest tourism localities in Vietnam, Da Nang still lacks an important link to develop the night-time economy - which is sleepless entertainment complexes - a successful model in famous tourist destinations around the world.

At 10pm in Da Nang, apart from the bars that are still lit up, most of the city’s entertainment centres and shops are closed. “Da Nang is a great city to visit , but when I want to go out at night, there is almost nothing going on,” said Anthony, a tourist from the UK.

Outstanding night-time economic activities in Da Nang are only concentrated in the summer.

As one of the most developed tourism localities in the country, Da Nang is considered to have not developed its night-time economy to its full potential - one of the "gold mines" that makes tourists "open their wallets". From the city's night-time economic development project issued in 2020, in recent years, a series of night-time tourism products and services have been launched to solve the problem: where do tourists go to Da Nang, what do they experience at night to increase their length of stay and tourism revenue?

A series of pilot models such as My An night beach, An Thuong tourist street, Bach Dang walking street, night tourism services at the east bank park at the foot of Nguyen Van Troi bridge and Nguyen Van Troi walking bridge, night markets, art shows; Han River night tour; water music show at September 2 Square; Dragon Bridge breathing fire and water show...

However, these services and experiences are not really synchronized and worthy of city tourism. Da Nang still lacks key projects, large-scale complexes, and well-designed night tourism experiences for visitors.

Singapore with Clarke Quay and Marina Bay Sands complex has created a vibrant night-time economic ecosystem.

PHOTO: ANH DUONG

“Bright lights mean bright economy”

According to Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, "night-time economy requires a high level of creativity. To exploit the night-time economy, infrastructure and services must be synchronous and products must be highly attractive."

Singapore with Clarke Quay and Marina Bay Sands complex has created a vibrant night-time economic ecosystem.

For example, people and tourists coming to Shanghai (China) often hear about a "legend": just walk 5.5 km of Nanjing Road and you will know why the name "Prosperous Shanghai" was born.

Dubbed “China’s No. 1 Street”, the street is always filled with neon lights from luxury fashion stores, shopping malls, restaurants, bars and cinemas that operate all night long. It has witnessed the entire transformation of Shanghai’s economy. It is estimated that up to 1.7 million tourists visit this street every day, contributing significantly to the 4.03 million night-time entertainment and 88 billion yuan in revenue from the city’s night-time economy in 2024. Shanghai’s success has led experts to have a very good saying: “bright lights mean bright economy”.

Shanghai Bund - China's night tourism symbol

Similarly, Singapore, with its Clarke Quay and Marina Bay Sands complexes, has created a vibrant night-time economic ecosystem, generating S$2.7 billion for the island nation by 2024. These bustling ports and neighborhoods, lit up day and night, are not only places for entertainment but also engines of economic growth, extending the length of stay and increasing spending by tourists.

Da Nang is lacking such a well-planned and synchronized night entertainment complex right in the city center - a place where just mentioning Da Nang, tourists can immediately "locate" where to go for a night out.

Night entertainment complex - what Da Nang is missing

According to Decision No. 1287/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on Approving the Planning of Da Nang City for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the orientation for the development of residential areas distributed in the city with unique identities of three typical regions, including the development of complex entertainment and night-time economic tourism centers in Hai Chau and Thanh Khe. However, in reality, in these two wards, there are still no large complexes of sufficient scale to meet the expectation of helping Da Nang create a night-time economic identity on the regional map.

In fact, this area already has the Da Nang Downtown entertainment complex. In the past, Da Nang Downtown has also invested in and created many new night tourism products such as large-scale shows: Symphony of River with impressive fireworks displays or Vui-Fest night market. However, this complex is still considered not to be large enough and attractive enough for a true night entertainment complex, not competitive enough with other famous tourist cities in the region and the world.

Symphony of River show creates a fever in summer 2024 in Da Nang

Besides Da Nang Downtown, there are tourism products such as Helio Night Market, walking streets, culinary experiences along the Han River... These products have more or less created a buzz, attracted tourists, contributed to the boom in tourism revenue in the summer of 2024 of Da Nang, but still lack the synchronization, community, and long-term to match the position of Da Nang tourism. Therefore, investing in new products or upgrading products, especially upgrading to a worthy and symbolic night entertainment complex, is a necessary action for Da Nang to reach the 2030 planning target.

With the plan to develop the night economy of the Han River city, in which the tourism industry plays a key role in creating products to serve tourists, creating suitable jobs for people and developing the inherent potential of the city, a well-developed and large-scale night entertainment complex is expected to be one of the important links. It is expected that a night entertainment complex will appear to help the tourism ecosystem of the Han River city become more complete and help the city's night economy develop to its full potential, so that tourists can continue to write wonderful moments in a way never known before about Da Nang.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/da-nang-dang-thieu-gi-de-phat-trien-kinh-te-dem-185250809102044264.htm